Structure of fastener

ABSTRACT

A structure of a fastener is used in an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe and includes a fastener. The fastener has a surface in which at least one hollow portion is formed. The hollow portion has a corner in which a narrow slot that is in communication with the hollow portion is formed. A string is received through the hollow portion and is, after subjected to length adjustment, pressed into the narrow slot so that narrow slot securely clamps the string. As such, the drawbacks and shortcomings of a conventionally used string buckle, such as structural instability, including slipping, vibrating, skewing, and loosening, being difficult to assemble, and having a high manufacturing cost, can be overcome. The fastener may additionally function as a rivet to be mounted to an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a structure of a fastenerused in an article, such as a garment, a bag, and a shoe, and moreparticularly to a structure of a fastener that makes use of a narrowslot to securely clamp a string, shows advantages of having excellentstructural stability, being easy to mount, and having a low manufacturecost, functioning as a rivet button and a string buckle, and providesfunctions of displaying a trademark and decorating.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As shown in FIG. 7, a conventionally used string buckle 80 is shown. Thestring buckle 80 can secure a string 91 that is set around an opening ofa garment 90 (such as a sleeve cuff and a bottom of the garment) or anopening of a bag at any desired location. As such, after adjustment ofthe size of the string 91 to wrap around the opening, the opening iskept in a condition of being re-expandable or re-shrinkable.

The string buckle 80 has a structure that comprises a first component 81and a second component 82 that is fit into the first component 81. Thefirst component 81 and the second component 82 have string holes incommunication with each other. To achieve resilient movability betweenthe first component 81 and the second component 82, an elastic device isarranged therein. The string 91 is received through the string holes ofthe first component 81 and the second component 82. By applying a forceto the second component, in a spring loaded manner, after the force isremoved, the spring force moves it back, making an edge of the stringhole thereof to clamp the string 91 that is received through the stringholes.

It can be seen from the above description that after the string buckle80 and the string 91 are assembled together, since the string buckle 80may get exposed outside a surface of a garment, a bag, or a shoe, itcannot be positioned in compliance with the surface of the article.Unexpected and undesired depressing of the string buckle 80 may occur tocause undesired slipping thereof, or it may get vibrated, skewed, orloosened when stretched and pulled, making the stability as a wholeextremely poor. Further, the functionality and effectiveness of use arevery limited. Further, the string buckle 80 occupies quite an amount ofspace and it is often uncomfortable if undesired contact with the stringbuckle 80 that is generally rigid in for example sitting down,particularly when it is mounted to a bottom of a garment.

Further, the structure of the string buckle 80 comprises a firstcomponent 81, a second component 82, and an elastic device arrangedtherein. A number of components are used, making the operation ofassembling complicated and the manufacture difficult. Further, themanufacture cost is heightened.

Further, the holes that are formed in a garment 91 for the extension ofa string 91 are often provided with rivet button rings 92 mounted aroundthe holes. This further increases the number of the components and themanufacture cost.

Thus, the structure of the known string buckle is not perfect and it isdesired to remove the drawbacks and shortcomings of the conventionalstring buckle, which is the challenge that the present invention is madeto overcome.

The present invention aims to provide a solution that overcomes theproblems discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a structure of a stringbuckle that makes use of a narrow slot to securely clamp a string andshows advantages of having excellent structural stability, being easy tomount, and having a low manufacture cost, and also provides a functionof a trademark rivet button.

To achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a fastener.The fastener has a surface in which at least hollow portion. The hollowportion has at least one corner in which a narrow slot communicatingwith the hollow portion is formed so that the narrow slot may securelyclamp a string. The string is set through the hollow portion and, afterbeing subjected to length adjustment, is pressed into the narrow slot toallow the narrow slot to securely clamp the string thereby overcomingthe drawbacks and shortcomings of the conventionally used string buckle,such as structural instability, including slipping, vibrating, skewing,and loosening, being difficult to assemble, and having a highmanufacturing cost.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure thatprovides functions of providing use of trademark, advertisement, anddecoration and may serve as a rivet button and a string buckle.

To achieve said another object of the present invention, the hollowportion may have a contour showing a pattern of a trademark or anon-hollowed portion having a portion having a contour showing a patternof a trademark.

The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introductionto the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects ofthe present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detaileddescription of the invention and the claims should be read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specificationand drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similarparts.

Many other advantages and features of the present invention will becomemanifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to thedetailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which apreferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of thepresent invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an application of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the portion marked 4 in FIG. 3 toillustrate an operation of the present invention securely clamping astring.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the structure of a conventionalstring buckle and a rivet button ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are notintended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description provides aconvenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of theinvention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made inthe function and arrangement of the elements described without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention comprises a fastener10. The fastener 10 has a surface forming hollow portion 11. A narrowslot 12 is formed in a corner of the hollow portion 11 and is incommunication therewith.

With the components of the present invention described above, theoperation principle and the features will be then described as follows:Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the fastener 10 according to the presentinvention can be mounted to (for example by means of riveting) to eachopening section of a garment 70. In the instant embodiment, the garment70 is a hooded jacket and the fastener 10 can be mounted to each of thehood, sleeve cuffs, and the bottom of the garment. A plurality ofstrings 20 is set around the hood, the sleeve cuffs, and the bottom ofthe garment 70 and is received through the fasteners 10 to project outthereof.

The hollow portion 11 of the fastener 10 is of a size greater than orsubstantially equal to an outside diameter of the string 20 so as toallow the string 20 to extend therethrough and also to allow a user toadjust the length of the string 20. After the length adjustment of thestring 20, the string 20 is stretched and pressed into the narrow slot12 to allow the string 20 to be securely clamped by the narrow slot 12.As such, the present invention can be used in an extremely simple, easy,and efficient manner.

Similarly, to loosen the string 20, the string 20 is pulled toward thehollow portions 11 to move out of the narrow slot 12 and then theclamped condition of the string 20 can be efficiently released for asubsequent adjustment of the string 20.

In the entirety of the present invention, the fastener 10 is mounted toa garment and is not necessary to be used with other components (namelyno conventionally used string buckle is necessarily used) and canadditionally provide a function of the conventionally used rivet buttonring (namely it can replace the conventionally used rivet button ring).In other words, integration of the conventionally used string buckle andrivet button ring is provided. Thus, the drawbacks and shortcomings ofthe conventionally used string buckle, such as structural instability,including slipping, vibrating, skewing, and loosening, being difficultto assemble, and having a high manufacturing cost, can be overcome.

Referring to FIG. 2, the hollow portion 11 according to the presentinvention can be of a contour showing the pattern of a trademark, oralternatively, a non-hollowed portion is made in the form showing acontour of the pattern of a trademark, whereby effectiveness of use ofthe trademark, advertisement, and decoration can be achieved. In theinstant embodiment, the hollow portion 11 is of a contour that shows thepattern of a heart-like trademark.

Further, the surface of the fastener 10 in which the hollow portion isformed is a front surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

Further, the surface of the fastener 10 in which the hollow portion isformed is a side surface of the fastener that is easily visible.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fastener 10 according to the present inventioncomprises a bottom on which a fixing ring 13 is formed to projecttherefrom in order to combine with a bottom fixing ring (not shown) tobe riveted to an article, such as a garment, a bag, or a shoe.

Referring to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the present invention issuch that multiple narrow slots 12 are respectively formed in corners ofa hollow portion 11 to be in communication therewith. In the instantembodiment, illustration is given to an example having four such cornersand four narrow slots 12.

Referring to FIG. 6, a third embodiment of the present invention is suchthat a hollow portion 11 is formed to show a contour having the patternof another predetermined trademark and the a narrow slot 12 is formed toshow a contour having another predetermined shape. Further, the contourshape of the narrow slot 12 can be arranged to match the contour of thetrademark pattern of the hollow portion 11.

In summary, the present invention indeed achieves the expected purposesby providing a structure of a fastener, wherein the fastener can bemounted to a hood, a sleeve cuff, or a bottom of a garment with a stringset around the hood, the sleeve cuff, or the bottom of the garment toprovide a fastening effect and also provides an additional function ofproviding a structure of a string buckle that makes use of a narrow slotto securely clamp a string and shows advantages of having excellentstructural stability, being easy to mount, and having a low manufacturecost and may also serve as a trademark.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together may also find a useful application in other types ofmethods differing from the type described above.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intendedto be limited to the details above, since it will be understood thatvarious omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the formsand details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be madeby those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spiritof the present invention.

I claim:
 1. A structure of a fastener, comprising a fastener, thefastener having a surface in which at least one hollow portion isformed, the hollow portion having at least one corner in which a narrowslot in communication with the hollow portion is formed, whereby thenarrow slot selectively receive and securely clamp a string therein. 2.The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, wherein the fastenerhas a bottom on which a fixing ring is formed to project therefrom forbeing combinable with a bottom fixing ring to be riveted to an article,such as a garment, a bag, or a shoe.
 3. The structure of a fasteneraccording to claim 1, wherein the hollow portion has a contour showing apattern of a trademark.
 4. The structure of a fastener according toclaim 2, wherein the hollow portion has a contour showing a pattern of atrademark.
 5. The structure of a fastener according to claim 1, whereina non-hollowed portion has a portion having a contour showing a patternof a trademark.
 6. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2,wherein a non-hollowed portion has a portion having a contour showing apattern of a trademark.
 7. The structure of a fastener according toclaim 1, wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portionis formed is a front surface of the fastener that is easily visible. 8.The structure of a fastener according to claim 2, wherein the surface ofthe fastener in which the hollow portion is formed is a front surface ofthe fastener that is easily visible.
 9. The structure of a fasteneraccording to claim 1, wherein the surface of the fastener in which thehollow portion is formed is a side surface of the fastener that iseasily visible.
 10. The structure of a fastener according to claim 2,wherein the surface of the fastener in which the hollow portion isformed is a side surface of the fastener that is easily visible.